Potential long-term effects of substance abuse, The dangers of mixing drugs

Original content:

Alcohol, Drugs and Weight Gain or Loss: What the Research Says

The dangers of mixing drugs

People who begin to take drugs regularly or experiment with drugs may begin to mix them or combine them with alcohol. Mixing drugs with other drugs or alcohol compounds the individual risks inherent to each substance – risks like breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, syncope (fainting), abnormal or dangerous behavior and ultimately, the risk of overdosing or dying.

Overall, drug abuse alters the mind and body in ways that make it almost impossible to maintain a healthy diet. Poor nutrition leads to serious health problems, and many diseases that may develop secondarily due to drug abuse also have associated weight changes.

Potential long-term effects of substance abuse

Dramatic weight loss due to substance abuse increases the risk of suffering from low blood sugar, heart arrhythmias, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, gallstones and alterations in blood pressure. Health problems such as these can become long-term and life-threatening.

Dangerously low blood sugar levels may lead to dizziness, confusion, tremors, trouble speaking or coma, while untreated heart arrhythmias may result in death. If the heart begins to beat too rapidly, a side effect of certain stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines, the heart may go into sudden cardiac arrest. Even if an individual is resuscitated, major organs may become seriously damaged due to cardiac arrest [24].

Losing significant amounts of weight may also result in unhealthy overeating to circumvent feelings of hunger or distress regarding the weight loss. Repeated starvation, which may result due to drug seeking behavior and other changes in mental processes that often occur concurrently with substance abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters that allow people to eat well beyond the satiation point by overriding their feelings of hunger.

High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, kidney disease, respiratory problems, cancer and osteoarthritis are among the many long-term health problems that may develop due to weight gain that is concurrent with substance abuse [25].

In general, the abuse of recreational, illicit, and prescription drugs can all result in similarly disastrous long-term effects on health – with dramatic vacillations in body weight, both up and down.

The importance of substance abuse treatment

Although various types of effective treatments have been established for substance abuse, it remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and death. This, in part, appears to be because people tend to avoid seeking treatment for at least 10 years after their substance abuse has started[26]. Due to this mismatch between available treatment, and the people who are in desperate need of it, substance abuse continues to be a major public health issue.

In addition to causing harmful fluctuations in weight, substance abuse can lead to multiple major organ damage, especially to the kidneys and heart [27]. People who have health problems such as arthritis or diabetes tend to worsen their symptoms and even speed up the progression of their condition through drug abuse, with any associated weight changes potentially compounding the damage done.

Chronic substance abusers should be mindful of the painful, debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that may develop when the drugs and/or alcohol are stopped. While not an exhaustive list, a withdrawal syndrome can encompass: heavy sweating, pain throughout the body, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and intense cravings. Even relatively mild symptoms such as these can make it quite difficult for people to overcome their substance abuse without the guidance of medical and treatment professionals. On a more serious end of the spectrum, acute alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can result in dangerous seizures and even death. For these and a number of other reasons, it is one’s best interest to seek professional assistance for the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse in order to prevent or address serious health problems, and to help guarantee a positive course of recovery.

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About the Author

Dr. Karen Vieira, PhD MSM

Dr. Vieira is a research scientist with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. She has done clinical and laboratory research on diseases, cellular functioning and nutritional supplements. Her focus is helping people make dietary and lifestyle changes that prevent, cure or improve health conditions.